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$100, double fold for true shirt pocket size. 8x preference. Is that a bear, elk or a rock? Coyote or heeler? Snowmobile or atv? Get it?

These are under consideration.
Kowa SC 8x25
Petax A-D 8x25
Bushnell H2O 8x25
This is a hard binocular to find, and the reason why is small, is difficult to make. I have several high end pocket types
from Ultravid to Swarovski. I do like some cheaper ones, so I will not comment on those you mentioned, but I do have
the Nikon Aculon 8x24, it is acceptable.

I would recommend saving up and spend around $300. then you are in the Zeiss Terra 8x25 area, a very good binocular
value that competes with the highest end. If you search threads on here, you will see that. Buy one and done.
The Zeiss is a possibility, but, not for the immediate. Thanks. When I get the pc up I will search on here as I know it was discussed several times. Not interested in alpha BTW.

The Kowas are fully multicoated, phase corrected and real waterproof... Leaning that way.
Had a set of these West German Zeiss 10x25 B.


[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]


They were effective but pretty hard on the eyes. Wish I'd kept them, circa 1979. Wonder how the Terra 8x compare? Or others?
No idea if they are still around, but Leica used to make a pretty decent pair of pocket binos.
Originally Posted by smithrjd
No idea if they are still around, but Leica used to make a pretty decent pair of pocket binos.


The OP is looking to spend only $100. Leica still makes some of the best pocket binoculars, even used the price starts
at around $300.
Yes, but you will get what you pay for.. Tasco I'm sure had some as well, but no longer available.
Originally Posted by MtnBoomer
$100, double fold for true shirt pocket size. 8x preference. Is that a bear, elk or a rock? Coyote or heeler? Snowmobile or atv? Get it?


I'm interested as well, give those criteria. I really like my Legend 10x25, but could see myself getting an 8x25 for $100.
Originally Posted by 4th_point
Originally Posted by MtnBoomer
$100, double fold for true shirt pocket size. 8x preference. Is that a bear, elk or a rock? Coyote or heeler? Snowmobile or atv? Get it?


I'm interested as well, give those criteria. I really like my Legend 10x25, but could see myself getting an 8x25 for $100.

Yep, those guidelines. BTW it a low use, high chance for loss situation at the moment. Is that a moose or a pickup?
In general, the smaller the objective lenses, the more 10x binoculars suck. This is due to the diffraction of the objective-lens edges, which in higher-X binoculars are a larger proportion of the area of the objective lenses.

One extreme example occurred a while back, when an outfitter friend of mine was given a 10x25 "alpha" binocular by a client. He was really proud of them--until I showed up with a "test" binocular, a 10x40 that retailed for about a 10th the price of his tip-binocular. We could both see more detail in the 10x40 than the 10x25.

In fact, I have yet to see an "alpha" 10x30 binocular that provides as much detail as an 8x30 of the same make. Then there's the problem of holding tiny 10x binoculars steady enough.

In general, 6x to 8x "pocket" binoculars work better than 10x models.
See if Doug has these

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Meopta-Binoculars-Meosport-8-x-25/362624022859?hash=item546e13794b:g:dG0AAOxyuCJRbmKV
Originally Posted by Mule Deer
In general, the smaller the objective lenses, the more 10x binoculars suck. This is due to the diffraction of the objective-lens edges, which in higher-X binoculars are a larger proportion of the area of the objective lenses.

One extreme example occurred a while back, when an outfitter friend of mine was given a 10x25 "alpha" binocular by a client. He was really proud of them--until I showed up with a "test" binocular, a 10x40 that retailed for about a 10th the price of his tip-binocular. We could both see more detail in the 10x40 than the 10x25.

In fact, I have yet to see an "alpha" 10x30 binocular that provides as much detail as an 8x30 of the same make. Then there's the problem of holding tiny 10x binoculars steady enough.

In general, 6x to 8x "pocket" binoculars work better than 10x models.


John,

I pretty much agree, with the "10x binoculars suck" with small objectives. However, the 10x25 Legend Ultra has overcome my bias. I had the CL 8x25 for awhile, compared them to a friend's Terra 8x25, and another friend's SLC 8x30. I had owned my own SLC 8x30 at one point and knew them fairly well. The CL was better than the other two, except in low light where the SLC was brighter. Not really a big surprise. The Terra was really nice, given the price, but didn't provide as much detail as the CL.

Then I bought the Legend Ultra 10x25, on a whim and based on the review by Andrew McKean at OL. I purchased through Amazon, and was fully prepared to send them back if they sucked. However, I spent days comparing the CL 8x25 and the Legend 10x25. Dusk, dawn, full sun, etc. There was never a time that I could see something with the CL that I couldn't with the Legend. Maybe not an apples-to-apples comparison, 8x vs. 10x, but I saw no advantage to the CL for my needs.

Yeah, both the CL and Legend suck at dusk/dawn. No surprise there, I suppose. I also think that most people with even a little bit of knowledge know that a 25mm bino with 10x, or 8x, is definitely going to have some limitations. Especially for $100 - 150.

Since I sold the CL, I have had no desire to replace or upgrade the 10x Legend. Pocket binos are definitely a niche item, but suit me well. I would like to add an 8x25 with a wider FOV, for use by my kids. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother for myself.

Jason


For that handy compact optic for a quick look, I've been thinking about picking up one of these Vortex 8x36 monocular, with 18mm eye relief, and 4.5mm exit pupil.

Better prices out there than Midway, but just for the info,

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/2...Bk57z5gIVg5yzCh16Wg50EAQYAyABEgIyePD_BwE
JB, IIRC, you said some good stuff about a Bushnell 8x32 or maybe x24 a while ago. Wasn't $100 though.
I bought a few weaver pocket bino's from natchezz 3-4 years ago on clearance for 39.99 they were 149.99 regular price. they have been great to carry in bow season. you may check clearance sales at natchezz again because weaver and Nikon have closed.
Thanks for input guys.
I have had the pocket bushnells for a lot of years. 8 and 10 power. The 8 is better than the 10. Not really all that great but better than nothing. A full size bino just doesn't work for my style of hunting. Possibly a more expensive brand of compact bino would be better.
I have Steiner and while they are great for what compact binoculars do, the most obvious limiting factor is field of view. Easy to spot things in the open and good light, but difficult to pick out small features in thick cover or low light.
Originally Posted by 338rcm
See if Doug has these

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Meopta-Binoculars-Meosport-8-x-25/362624022859?hash=item546e13794b:g:dG0AAOxyuCJRbmKV


We do have the Meopta MeoStar 8x20 ED's
A 6X compact would be a useful tool.
Well, a Kowa SV 8x25 and an SV 10x25 coming despite no direct reference. LOL It's the lower tier Kowa pocket but phase corrected and fully multicoated, dual hinged as desired. Supposedly made in Japan. Any company that makes their own fluorite crystal is serious, or so I figure.

Could not locate a Pentax where I wanted to buy this time. (I needed to be able to specify exact shipping carrier.)

My Hawke/Athlon curiousity phase is over... MJGA

Will keep Meopta and Zeiss in mind.
I have had a couple of Pentax and they're a great value for the money. They meet my needs for whitetail hunting out to 150yds. or so, never had any problems with mine.
I have a pair of Alpen 10x27 Wings folding binocs. I wouldn't claim them to be the ultimate but I can wear them all the time w/out a penalty in weight or bulk and have found a lot of critters w/ them. Sometimes having something you can use all the time and leave in the console ready for the next time works. The 10x50 Alphas and carbon fiber tripod ride in the pack for use when appropriate.


mike r
I have Leica Trinovid 8x20 binoculars that I bought from Doug at Cameraland years ago. I think it was my first purchase from Doug.

I love those binoculars. They work remarkably well until it starts to get dark but that is not their intended use. I would never sell them.

My point being what mule deer said about magnification and objective size.
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